I’m very happy to welcome, Dani Harper to Book Chick City today. Dani is a newspaper editor turned paranormal author. There isn’t anything she likes better than exploring the supernatural — unless it’s writing romantic suspense. Of course, all of her stories have at least one foot in the netherworld…
Dani is kindly giving away 4 copies of her paranormal romance novel, ‘Changeling Dream‘, so make sure you enter at the end of this post!
So, please give a warm welcome to, Dani…
Shapeshifters, Changelings & Werewolves, oh my!
Shapeshifter, skinwalker, loup-garou, lycanthrope, changeling, rugaru, war-woolfe – a werewolf by any other name is still a human who can become a wolf.
Werewolves have become almost as popular as vampires in pop culture, and are featured in ever-increasing numbers in books, TV shows and movies. But werewolves are far from new. Legends, myths and even accounts of men and women changing into wolves and other animals date back thousands of years in almost every culture on earth. There are ancient artifacts and petroglyphs (rock carvings) showing humans with wolfen heads and tails. Native American legends abound with stories of shapeshifters.
HOW TO BECOME A WEREWOLF – INVOLUNTARY METHODS
In many countries on both sides of the Atlantic a person could become a werewolf against their will if someone cursed them. (In Finland, if you were lucky enough to break the spell, you were still stuck with a wolf’s tail for the rest of your life!) Often, the person doing the hexing was not a witch but a priest! From Russia to France, if you didn’t go to church or offended God in some other way, you could be officially cursed to become a werewolf.
According to Russian tradition, children born on December 24th, Christmas Eve, became werewolves. Being born on the winter solstice in Italy could have the same effect.
In some stories, accidentally locking eyes with a wolf could cause you to become one. Surprisingly, the least common recorded method was being bitten by a werewolf!
HOW TO BECOME A WEREWOLF – VOLUNTARY METHODS
In Sweden, men became werewolves by drinking magic beer and chanting a spell. In Germany, Italy and France, both men and women could become shapeshifters by sleeping outside and allowing the full moon to shine on their faces for the entire night (especially on a Wednesday or a Friday).
The oldest legends have humans putting on a whole wolfskin to cause themselves to change form. This is similar to the skinwalker legends of Native Americans, where a pelt was placed against the skin. In some stories, only a belt made of wolf fur was needed.
In the Balkans, all you had to do was drink the water from a wolf’s footprint. Or drink from a body of water where a wolf pack had just satisfied their thirst. Or (shudder) eat the brains of a wolf.
HOW TO BECOME A CHANGELING
In my new paranormal series from Kensington Brava, my shapeshifter characters call themselves Changelings. They have control over their wolfen form and only their very first change occurs at the full moon. The rest of the time they’re free to shift as they please, and they regard their ability as a blessing not a curse. It’s a gift that can be shared too, although Changeling law strictly forbids turning anyone against their will.
“Like all of the Macleods, Connor was far older than he appeared, would live beyond several human lifetimes, but there were few Changelings left in the world. Most of his kind built relationships with humans. Fortunately, a human could become a Changeling too, could share in the gifts. Just like in the old werewolf tales, anyone bitten by a Changeling would become one. The saliva boasted a unique peptide. A single deep bite could place a sufficient amount of the substance into the bloodstream to activate a gene already present in every human body. Not all human partners chose this path, but most did.” from CHANGELING DREAM, 2012
To find out more, please visit Dani’s website or stop by her Facebook page at and say hello! She always has time to chat with a reader.
You can find out more about the author here:
GIVEAWAY
A total of four winners will be drawn at random – two from the USA and two International. The prize is a signed copy if CHANGELING DREAM.
Did you ever wish you could turn into an animal? If you could, what creature would you choose?
All you have to do to enter is the following:
1. Leave a comment for Dani and answer her question above
2. Read Book Chick City’s giveaway policy
3. Fill out this form
4. One entry per person (duplicate entries will be disqualified)
This giveaway ends Friday 26th Aug 2011
GOOD LUCK!
76 Comments
I cant decide which i would rather be a wolf or a large cat. The cats can climb trees which would be fun. so ill go with a large cat
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I always wanted to be a big cat. Either a lion or a jaguar. I think its because I'm a leo
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lol i know ive said this before but a leopard or a wolf! two of my all time favs.
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Definately a Leopard. But I wouldn't do any of the icky things to be one!
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well it´s a hard decision, but i would choose a black cat
because the cats are really mysterious animal imo 
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It will be very interesting to turn into an animal, maybe a mouse to go everywhere i want.
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Dani, fthanks for the time you take to talk to your readers. Interesting question. I think i'll like to turn into an owl. i love thi sbirds and i also suffer of insomnia so yes, an owl would be awesome
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I would like to turn into a big cat: either panther or tiger or lioness: that way I'd be strong and fast yet graceful and have 9 lives ;-p But I'd be happy to be a wolf too.
Thank you for the great giveaway too Dani!
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I don't really want to be able to change into an animal, but if I could I'd probably choose, like, an owl. Or a dragon. Maybe even an ostrich!
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I'd like to turn into a bear. First of all a bear can hibernate in winter and to top that, a bear isn't supposed to be skinny (yay to chocolate)!
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I'd turn into a tiger!
Thanks for the giveaway too!
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I SO want to be a dragon. Very cool or **HOT**.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
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I would turn into a bird so that I could soar the skys and see all the beauties of the world.
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If I could ever turn into an animal it would definitely have to be a panther or a leopard.They are so sleek and graceful.
GFC-Janhvi Jagtap
justjanhvi at gmail dot com
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I think I would choose a panther. I think they are beautiful.
truebloodfan AT rock.com
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I would turn into a lynx as I think they are beautiful and while not the greatest hunters in the cat family, my claws would still help protect my family and friends!
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i would turn into some kind of bird so i could fly…
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I would love to turn into a unicorn or pegasus. I think they are very beautiful. Tore923@aol.com
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I would love to turn into a horse as they are my favorite animals and i would love to know if they enjoy my company as much as i enjoy theirs.
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Awesome post, Dani. It's very interesting.
I think if I could change into an animal, I would want to be some kind of large cat, more specifically a panther. They're soo graceful and beautiful.
Thanks for the giveway.
lyssad87(at)gmail(dot)com
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If I could turn into an Animal, I would choose a leopard because it is a beautiful predator, so graceful.
Great Post, Dani
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If I could turn into any animal I think I would love to be an eagle or a wolf. Both are beautiful animals. I am looking forward to reading your books.
musicalfrog at comcast.net
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Any animal? Hmm… probably one of my house cats… They are so spoiled lol.
~Kayla
kcrochet002@gmail.com
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I don't think I've ever wished I could turn into an animal, but if I had to, I guess I would pick some sort of bird…I love cardinals and bluejays, so maybe one of those.
Loved reading about all the werewold legends from different countries!
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I never wished to be able to turn into an animal, but if I could, I wish I'd be able to become a cat, a black one preferably.
spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com
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Good morning from Alaska! It's early here but thanks to the time difference, there are ALREADY so many terrific comments! I love all your ideas and wish the blog program allowed me to respond individually. Thanks to everyone for dropping by! Good luck in the draw!
PS – here's an extra werewolf factoid: Brazilian and Portuguese folklore says that the 7th son in a line of sons (no girls born inbetween) will become a werewolf.
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I've posted this before but I would want to be a domesticated house cat — preferably with long orange or gray fur. Cats have it made. They own humans that will do anything for them plus cats get to lay wherever they want to AND sleep whenever. In my next life that's what I want to be!
Saph
saphsbookblog(at)gmail(dot)com
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Wonderful post!!
I would be a wolf. Have loved them since I was little.
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What an awesome post.
… and don't forget the Loups Garou in the international list.
Congratulations and Good luck with the book it looks to be great!
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thanks for a great give away im pleased to have a chance to win this book
i would def be a black panther or one of the members of the large cat family
jenny
madsheepno1 at yahoo dot co dot uk
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Thanks for taking time to visit with us today, and thanks for the contest, too.
I'd love to be a large cat of some sort, probably a tiger – such beautiful creatures and of course, I would obviously be entitled to receive tiger-size pampering! lol
kim (dot) giardina (at) gmail (dot) com
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Awesome interview! Thanks for the background!
efender1@gmail.com
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I guess if i could be any animal I'd pick a bird. It would be very cool to be able to fly.
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I am fascinated with my cats and how they can change direction in the air and catch their falls. They are also so beautiful and poised, so I would have to say a Panther or Leopard of some kind. They are fierce and agile.
heavenisabookstore(at)gmail(dot)come
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Great question! I'm not really sure I would like to be an animal. If I had to choose, I would love to be a wolf. I like the legends that surround them.
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What a great question! I would love to turn into a sleek cat, like a panther! That would be really cool!
jwitt33 at live dot com
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I would love to be a cat!
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i agree with the majority of the posts.. i would love to be some sort of cat.. panthers, pumas, jaguars, lynx.. kitties are awesome!!
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I would like to change into a tiger.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Definitely a giant wolf! Preferably the kind that doesn't destroy their clothes when they transform!
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I would love to change into a lioness. They are very beautiful creatures. I love this author's mythos on shape-shifters. I am going to have to add her to my TBR pile.
Thanks for the opportunity to win and thanks to the author for taking the time for the interview.
Happy Blogging,
Laurielu
bonafidereflections(at)gmail(dot)com
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Wolf or any other canine would be good
They are so loyal to the family and work well as a group – just my thing.
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I'm reading Changeling Moon right now and will go onto Changeling Dream right after! Loving it! So, I had to comment (but not enter) just to say "Hi!"
Oh I'd be a wild kitty. However, because of their secretive nature, I cannot reveal which one. ;D
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Hi Dani. Your books sound good. I would want to change into a big cat.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com
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If I had to pick a small animal, I think it would be a ferret. They are incredibly wily and smart and can get into such mischief and mischief can be loads of fun. Thank you for sharing these wonderful legend origins with us today and for the wonderful giveaway opportunity.
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I would love to shapeshift into a Puma or Mountain Cat – I wanna be able to stalk people and nobody could hear me because my paws are so quiet. hee hee!
Love the book!
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I would change either into a bear or a wolf. I love bears (long story behind that) and I love werewolf tales!!! Wolves are just so beautiful and incredibly intelligent! I love the covers of these books! I can't wait to own them!
saribonita76(at)gmail(dot)com
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No question about it ! I would love to turn into that most beautiful of the cats, a jaguar.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
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A large cat like a tiger or panther. Just for the experience.
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A fox, I think. They are very beautiful, and wolf-like, but smaller, so they would fit anywhere.
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I can't say that I've ever wished to be an animal, but if I could I think I'd be a black panther.
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I would turn into an eagle. I would love to fly!!
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I would love to turn into a cat. They have the life.
Sara M
sara_UFblog [at] yahoo [dot] com
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I think i would like to be a wolf:)
great giveaway!
elliott2668(at)yahoo(dot)com
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This is a hard question for me. I'm torn between some form of cat or a wolf. I personally love all the cat forms, they are graceful and can take care of themselves, but I also admire the wolf, and I think it would be hard to kick the wolf's ass!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Artesia at comcast dot net
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I would have to say a cat. Like a tiger or a panther. I am a cat person. I think a wolf would also be cool.
thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win. This book sounds great and would love to read it.
christinebails@yahoo.com
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Oh, oh…hmmm…well I would love to be a lioness! of course,having a leo for a star sign is pretty cool…I'd love to actually be one…
Thanks for the giveaway…gosh, the book sounds awesome!!!
cheers
niki
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I never thought about it but I guest I would like to turn in water animal like shark or dolphin. I think that would be really cool and I love water, sea and swimming…
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if i could be any animal i wnated id want to be a panther sleek and beautiful
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I have wished to be an animal before. It'd either be a bird (for obvious reasons) or a killer whale. I love killer whales, they're my favorite animal and they're so unique. Also I love to swim, i'm not very good at it, but I still love it so it'd be awesome to live in the sea
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Very fun, Dani! I don't think I've ever had the deep seated desire to become an animal, but if I were to choose, I'd like either a wolf or a big cat–some sort of sleek predator
They're gorgeous and so powerful!
f dot chen at comcast dot net
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A hawk swooping, diving, hunting and flying free.
ticklebear2 (at) yahoo (dot) com
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When I was a kid I wanted to be a rabbit-so soft and cuddly. Now it would have to lean more toward a panther (my old school mascot) or lion/ess (because I am a leo).
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I would like turn into a dolphin. I adore dolphins. I would be able to explore the ocean all over the world.
Thanks for the giveaway!
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Fun guest post! I haven't really given much thought to what kind of animal I would like to turn into before now. .. Probably my fave animal to visit at the zoo are monkeys… so while they would be fun, I guess I would have to put up with their disgusting aspects too! lol
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I would love to be a tiger!!!
Thank for the great giveaway!!!
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A fat lazy house cat would be my choice. Wouldn't it be great to nap in the sun, pile up on a comfy lap, and never have to worry about the next meal. Yeap, a lazy housecat, that's me.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/
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I want to be cheetah because they are the fastest animal on earth.
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I would love to be a tiger or a leopard.. But I also would love to be something that's able to fly. Like an owl or something.
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I knew of some of those werewolf legends, but others were new to me. Thanks for sharing that, it's really interesting to find these things.
Even though I love werewolfs, the fact is, fi I was a changeling, I'd want to become a black panther (one of my favourite animals).
anacorvonunes[at]gmail.com
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While I greatly admire cats, both small and large, I would rather be a wolf, for so many reasons. One, they are built for grace the hunt, and have few natural enemies, besides man. They are cunning, powerful and intelligent animals. Wolves have long term mates, with family units or "packs". I like the idea of a "family unit" with these animals, even in some cases having aunts or uncles to babysit while the parents are away hunting. They are also extremely handsome creatures.
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Hey Dani – Well I am still on the owl thing because they are just so cool and beautiful. Although my friend's Border Collie is so loved and pampered…tempting.
wandre3000@yahoo.com
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I would want to be either a cat(just a regular domesticated cat of any color) or a bird(preferably Kestrel or another type of falcon). Either of these choices blend in well. No one pays attention to outside cats or birds and they can come and go as they please.
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Alwya liked how cats could climb and run and nap.
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I would be a Giraffe, I am quite short, so I love the idea of being tall enough to see the tree tops, I think they are beautiful graceful creatures with beautiful eyes! And which man wouldn't want a woman with a fab tongue like that!
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I feel pretty ok in my body but if I had to choose I would go for a cat. They do have 9 (7?) lives at least
Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
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